Roof design

ABSTRACT

A roof design has an external sheet covering ( 1 ), an insulating layer ( 3 ) provided beneath the sheet covering ( 1 ) and a load carrying structure ( 10 ) that supports the insulating layer ( 3 ). It is significant of the roof design that elements ( 7 ) for transporting an energy absorbing medium is provided in the insulating layer ( 3 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a roof design that comprises anexternal sheet covering, an insulating layer provided beneath the sheetcovering and a load carrying structure that supports the insulatinglayer.

PRIOR ART

From DE 198 16 980 A1 a building component is previously known, saidbuilding component being manufactured by having a floating mouldingmaterial pumped into a space between a permanent mould constituting twosheet metals and an opposite mould. When the moulding material hashardened a building component is achieved where the external layer inthe permanent mould constitute the external roof covering. A pipe systemis also included in the building component, said system being arrangedbetween the two sheet metals in the permanent mould. In the pipe systemliquid is circulated, said liquid collecting solar energy.

OBJECTS AND FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to present a roof designwhere the external sheet covering is given a sufficient underlyingsupport.

Still an object of the present invention is that the underlying supportof the sheet covering has a heat insulating function.

A further object of the present invention is to avoid problems regardingcondensate in the roof design.

Still an object of the present invention is to collect the solar energythat radiates into the roof design.

At least the primary object of the present invention is realised bymeans of a roof design that has been given the features of the pendingindependent claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are definedin the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Below preferred embodiments on the invention will be described,referenced being made to the accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 shows a section, in the direction of the slope of the roof,through a preferred embodiment of a roof design according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail of a part of the section according toFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of the roof design according to FIG.1, a portion of the external sheet covering has been deleted for clarityreasons;

FIG. 4 shows a section along IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4A shows a corresponding section as in FIG. 4 of an alternativeembodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a section in the slope of the roof through a furtheralternative embodiment of a roof design according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 shows a section, in a direction transverse the slope of the roof,through the embodiment according to FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows schematically a section, in a direction transverse theslope of the roof, through a further embodiment of roof design accordingto the present invention,

FIG. 8 shows schematically a section, in a direction transverse theslope of the roof, through a further embodiment of a roof designaccording to the present invention, the sheet covering and theinsulating layer being somewhat separated; and

FIG. 9 shows schematically a section, in a direction transverse theslope of the roof, through a further embodiment of roof design accordingto the present invention, the sheet covering and the insulating layerbeing somewhat separated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1-4, of a roof design according to thepresent invention comprises an external sheet covering 1, that forinstance may constitute sections of sheet metal that are assembled insuch a way that there is an overlap between adjacent sections. In theembodiment according to FIGS. 1-4 the sheet covering 1 constitutes asheet metal that has been given a tile profile.

The sheet covering 1 is supported by an insulating layer 3 thatpreferably constitutes self-supporting cellular plastic. Thereby, theside of the insulating layer 3 that faces towards the sheet covering 1has been given a shape that is adapted to the sheet covering 1. Sincethe sheet covering 1 has a tile profile, the side of the insulatinglayer 3 that faces towards the sheet covering 1 has a shape comprisingvalleys and ridges. This brings about that the sheet covering 1 is intight contact with the insulating layer 3.

As is evident from FIG. 4 the insulating layer 3 is in the shape ofprefabricated elements 5 that are mutually assembled by cooperatingconnecting means along the edges of the elements 5. When theprefabricated elements 5 are assembled in a correct way they form acontinuous bed upon which sections of sheet metal may be located andassembled to create the sheet covering 1. When assembling the elements 5that constitute the insulating layer 3 a continuous groove 9 is alsocreated.

As is most evident from FIGS. 3 and 4 a flexible hose 7 is embedded inthe insulating layer 3. To that purpose the insulating layer 3 isequipped with the continuous groove 9 that in the disclosed embodimenthas straight portions that are interconnected by U-shaped portions. Thisgroove configuration is of course only an example of a number offeasible variants. Generally, the groove configuration should be suchthat the hose 7/the groove 9 has an extension covering a major part ofthe surface of the insulating layer 3 that faces the sheet covering 1.The hose 7 may for instance constitute a freeze resistant elastomer. Inthe groove configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the groove 9 is locatedin the valleys of the insulating layer 3.

The hose 7 may now be mounted in the continuous groove 9. It isfavourable if the hose 7 somewhat projects above the insulating layer 3.When the sheet covering 1 is mounted on top of the insulating layer 3 aperfect contact is established between the hose 7 and the sheet covering1, this improving the energy exchange.

In FIG. 3 it is shown schematically, by means of the arrows P1 and P2,how an energy absorbing medium is supplied at one end of the hose 7 anddischarged at the other end of the hose 7. The energy absorbing mediumpreferably constitutes a liquid. If needed an anti-freezing agent may beadded to the liquid. The energy absorbing medium is preferably collectedin an accumulator tank (not shown). The energy that is obtained duringthe day may then be used during the night.

As is most evident from FIGS. 1 and 2 the insulating layer 3 issupported by a load carrying structure 10 that in the shown embodimentconstitutes tongued and grooved boards. The sheet covering 1 and theinsulating layer 3 are anchored in the load carrying structure 10 bymeans of through-going screws 15 that extend through the sheet covering1 and the insulating layer 3 and reaches into the load carryingstructure 10.

The roof design according to the present invention also comprises meansto circulate a liquid in the hose 7. This may be effected by means of apump. Since a relatively large amount of water may be circulated throughthe hose 7 the recovered energy, preferably in combination with anaccumulator tank, may be used to heat tapwater and/or for floor heating.Of course an accumulator tank is not necessary but the hose may be adirect part of a heat exchange system.

In FIG. 4A a corresponding section is shown as in FIG. 4 of analternative embodiment of a roof design according to the presentinvention. The principal difference between the roof according to FIG.4A compared to the roof according to FIG. 4 is that the hose 107/thegroove 109 are located on the ridges of the insulating layer 103. Thismeans that contact between the hose 107 and the sheet covering 101occurs at the highest points of the sheet covering 101.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 sections are shown through an alternative embodiment ofa roof design according to the present invention, said embodimentgenerally being more suitable for industrial buildings. A significantfeature of the roof design according to FIGS. 5 and 6 is that the sheetcovering 201 essentially constitute completely planar elements, e.g. ofsheet metal, that are mutually assembled by means of welts 202. Thesheet covering 201 is supported by an insulating layer 203 that also mayhave a substantially planar surface that is equipped with grooves, saidsurface facing the sheet covering 201. A hose 207 is received in thegrooves and liquid is brought to circulate in the hose 207 in acorresponding way as described in connection with the embodimentaccording to FIGS. 1-4.

Further examples of the design of a sheet covering, being part of theroof design according to the present invention, is shown in FIGS. 7-9.In connection therewith the insulating layer of the roof design has beengiven a shape that is adapted to the sheet covering. In FIGS. 8 and 9the groove that receives the hose is provided in the ridges of theinsulating layer.

To sum up the roof design according to the present invention offers astable, insulating base for essentially all types of roofing sheets,regardless if they are planar or corrugated. As regards the material inthe sheet covering reference is made to what is stated under theheadline Feasible Modifications of the Invention. The roof designaccording to the present invention also has a groove provided in theinsulating layer, a hose being received in said groove. Therebycollection and distribution of solar energy is made possible.

Feasible Modifications of the Invention

In the embodiments described above the sheet covering 1; 101; 201 ispreferably manufactured from sheet metal. However, within the scope ofthe present invention it is also feasible that the sheet covering ismanufactured from other materials. Plastic may be mentioned inexemplifying and non-restricting purpose.

In the embodiment described above according to FIGS. 1-2 the loadcarrying structure 10 constitutes tongued and grooved boards. However,within the scope of the present invention also other types of loadcarrying structures are feasible. Secondary spaced boarding or plywoodmay be mentioned in exemplifying and non-restricting purpose.

In the embodiments described above the energy absorbing mediumconstitutes a liquid. However, within the scope of the present inventionother energy absorbing media are feasible. Air may be mentioned inexemplifying and non-restricting purpose.

1. Roof design that comprises an external sheet covering (1; 101), aninsulating layer (3; 103) provided beneath the sheet covering (1; 101)and a load carrying structure (10; 110) that supports the insulatinglayer (3; 103), and that means (7; 107) for transporting an energyabsorbing medium is provided in the insulating layer (3; 103),characterised in that the external sheet covering (1; 101) iscorrugated, and that the surface of the insulating layer (3; 103) thatfaces towards the sheet covering (1; 101) has a shape that is adapted tothe sheet covering (1; 101).
 2. Roof design according to claim 1,characterised in that the means for transporting an energy absorbingmedium constitutes a flexible hose (7; 107).
 3. Roof design according toclaim 2, characterised in that the insulating layer (3; 103) is equippedwith a groove (9) for receiving the flexible hose (7; 107).
 4. Roofdesign according to claim 3, characterised in that the groove (9) iscontinuous and comprises straight portions and curved portions, seen intop view.
 5. Roof design according to claim 1, characterised in thatsheet covering (1; 101) has a tile profile.
 6. Roof design according toclaim 3, characterised in that the hose (7; 107) projects above theinsulating layer (3; 103).
 7. Roof design according to claim 4,characterised in that the hose (7; 107) projects above the insulatinglayer (3; 103).